Chartogne-Taillet 2002 Champagne redux

A year ago I enjoyed a bottle of this wine and put the rest of the case away. Today, I opened a bottle.

Pale straw color, many streams of vigorous pin-point bubbles. I could (and did) copy & paste this from last year.

Smell of bread dough rising, pear.

Flavors of pear, peach into apricot, toast, with lemon at the end.

This remains an excellent medium-to-full-bodied bottle. I'm reminded why vintage Champagne is more highly prized than is NV Brut.

I'll open another bottle in a year.

Chartogne-Taillet 2002 Champagne

60% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay.

Pale straw color, many streams of vigorous pin-point bubbles.

Smells of ripe red cherries, toasted home-made bread.

Peach and cherry flavors, buttered baking-powder biscuit at the end, lemony-good finish.

Pricey but not painfully so bottle for $60.67, I accept that Champagne is never cheap (especially vintage Champagne) and the degree of hand-work in producing it somewhat justifies that.

I'll open another bottle in a year.

Chartogne-Taillet non-vintage Brut Champagne Sainte-Anne

Pale straw color, long-lasting streams of tiny very vigorous bubbles.

Smell of ripe apples and toast.

Big ripe (maybe slightly over-ripe) apple flavor, Bartlett pear, cherry, toasted almonds, creamy texture.

$41.40 is an outstanding price for a bottle of very good real Champagne. My love for Bollinger Special Cuvee isn't diminished, but I must reconsider its status as "my everyday Champagne".

Update: The problem of posting out of order - now Paul Laurent non-vintage Brut Deluxe Champagne Cuvee des Fondateur at about $30 / 750ml, is certainly my everyday Champagne.